World Bank Project (SARDM)

Work under this Project, directed at creating income generating opportunities for positive people, commenced in August 2008.  To date, 20 members of Lanka plus (13 men and 7 women) have received training in candle making and screen printing under this project, as well as instruction on the basics of running a small business.

Project Activities

• Meeting for the membership of Lanka Plus - details of the project were explained to them, and those interested in participating were requested to indicate this fact. 
• Steering Committee Meeting at which the final selections of the 20 participating members of Lanka Plus was made. 
• Preparation of a Market Assessment Report - by a University of Colombo Team, who conducted a market research to determine what types of items could be marketed to consumers on the basis that they were manufactured by HIV Positive people.
• Training in candle making – 15 members of Lanka Plus followed this training, which was conducted by the Industrial Development Board. 
• Training in Screen Printing - 13 members of Lanka Plus were trained in screen printing techniques by the Craft Council of Sri Lanka (Jana Kala Kendraya).  
• Training in SIYB - in addition to the skill training mentioned above, all the participants were trained in SIYB (Start and Improve Your Own Business) by the Industrial Development Board with the assistance of  SIYB.
• Training in Packaging for those trained in candle making was conducted in September 2009. 
• Payment of Advances - a total of Rs.700,000/- has been disbursed by way of advances.  Recovery of monies advanced is due to commence by the end of October 2009. 

This project is being coordinated by Mr. Edman Amarasooriya, who is assisted by Mr. Sarath Peiris and Ms. Priyanthi Kumari from the staff of Lanka Plus.